The Karnataka Government has announced an increase in the housing quota for minority communities from 10% to 15%, sparking a strong backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The state cabinet made the decision on Thursday, triggering a heated war of words between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.
What the new quota means
The new provision applies to various housing schemes implemented by the state’s Housing Department across urban and rural areas. According to Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil, the move aims to aid the houseless among the state’s minority communities, including Muslims, Christians, Jains, and Buddhists. “The Centre has instructed us to assess the shortage of housing for minority communities. We have acted to uplift those in need,” Patil said, defending the decision.
BJP claims “appeasement politics”
BJP State President Vijayendra Yediyurappa slammed the move as “unconstitutional” and an example of “appeasement politics” by the Congress. “Reservation on the basis of religion is unconstitutional. The Congress has turned welfare into a marketplace for vote‑bank politics — first 4% in government contracts, and now 15% in housing schemes. This is a dangerous attempt to institutionalise communal politics. It robs SCs, STs, and OBCs of their rightful opportunities,” he said.
BJP MP Jagadish Shettar says, “From the beginning, whatever is possible, Congress govt do it just to gain Muslim votes — that’s why they indulge in appeasement politics. First, they announced a 4% reservation in contracts, which has now been challenged in court and is pending. Now, they’re giving reservations in housing allotments… Limited appeasement is one thing, but this is excessive. The Congress party has only survived because of Muslim support. Due to all these appeasement policies, time will come when the Congress government will collapse.”
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla said the Congress-led Karnataka government ‘behaves like Jinnah’ and a ‘modern representation of the Muslim League’.
“The Congress Party serves as the modern representation of the Muslim League. It behaves like Jinnah, who divided India along communal lines… They have stated that Muslims have first rights to the country’s resources. They have taken away SC, ST, and OBC reservations and allocated them to the Muslim community on religious grounds, which contradicts Ambedkar and the constitution. They have granted reservations to Muslims in civil contracts as well, which goes against the constitutional spirit. Now, they are doing this only to rub salt into the wounds of the Hindu community. For them, Hindus don’t matter,” said Poonawalla.
What Karnataka govt said in defence?
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar argued that many state‑built homes in urban areas remained vacant due to lack of interest from general applicants. “In certain areas, 20–30% of the minority population is poor, and the housing lies empty. Should the houses be left vacant?” he asked.
He also emphasised that the new quota doesn’t affect SC, ST, and OBC allocations. “These are surplus units. Minorities have shown interest, and the state is responding to their housing needs,” said Shivakumar.
Legal challenges
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that the move contradicts a Supreme Court ruling that forbids religion‑based quotas. “This will reduce the quota for SCs, STs, and the general caste. We will challenge this in court,” Joshi said.
